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Erongo Region

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Erongo is one of the 14 regions of Namibia. The capital is Swakopmund. It is named after Mount Erongo, a well-known landmark in Namibia and in this area. Erongo contains the municipalities of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Henties Bay and Omaruru, as well as the towns Arandis, Karibib and Usakos. All the main centres within this region are connected by paved roads.

Erongo Region
Region
Location of the Erongo Region in Namibia
Location of the Erongo Region in Namibia
Coordinates: 22°00′S 15°35′E / 22.00°S 15.59°E / -22.00; 15.59
CountryNamibia
CapitalSwakopmund
Government
 • GovernorNeville Andre Itope[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total63,539 km2 (24,533 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)[3][4]
 • Total240,206
 • Density3.8/km2 (9.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)
HDI (2017)0.711[5]
high · 2nd
Websitewww.erc.com.na

The Erongo Region had a population of 150,809 in 2011.[3] As of 2020, it had 119,784 registered voters.[6]

In the west, Erongo has a shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean. On land, it borders the following regions:

Economy and infrastructure

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Various mining operations occur within this region at places such as Navachab and on a smaller scale at places surrounding Uis and the desert area. Karibib also has a marble industry. Walvis Bay, fully incorporated into the Erongo Region in 1994, is the principal home of Namibia's fishing industry. Walvis Bay also boasts the only deep sea port and is the second largest town in the country. Swakopmund and Langstrand are popular beach resorts; Arandis supports mining industry and Swakopmund boasts manufacturing.

This region, with its link to the coast of Namibia, is well developed. Facilities such as schools, hospitals and clinics, the supply of electricity and telecommunication services are, with a few exceptions, well established. Erongo has 66 schools with a total of 32,114 pupils.[7]

Politics

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Constituencies

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The region comprises seven electoral constituencies:

Regional elections

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Erongo is one of a few Namibian regions where there is considerable opposition support. In the 2004 regional election for the National Assembly of Namibia, the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) won in five of the seven constituencies, two were won by the United Democratic Front (UDF).[8]

In the 2015 regional elections, SWAPO obtained 65% of the total votes (2010: 67%)[6] and won six of the seven constituencies with only Dâures, traditionally a UDF stronghold, narrowly won by the opposition.[9][10] In the 2020 regional election the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, was the strongest party. It obtained 36.8% of votes overall and won three constituencies, including Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Urban. SWAPO obtained 30.5% of all votes and also won three constituencies. Dâures was again narrowly won by the UDF.[6]

The governors of Erongo are:

Demographics

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According to the Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census, Erongo had a population of 107,663 (50,040 females and 57,616 males or 115 males for every 100 females) growing at an annual rate of 1.3%. The fertility rate was 3.2 children per woman. 80% inhabitants lived in urban areas while 20% lived in rural areas, and with an area of 63,579 km2, the population density was 1.7 persons per km2. By age, 11% of the population was under 5 years old, 18% between 5–14 years, 64% between 15–59 years, and 6% were 60 years and older. The population was divided into 27,496 households, with an average size of 3.8 persons. 35% of households had a female head of house, while 65% had a male. For those 15 years and older, 57% had never married, 24% married with certificate, 2% married traditionally, 10% married consensually, 2% were divorced or separated, and 3% were widowed.[12]

The most commonly spoken languages at home were Oshiwambo (37% of households), Afrikaans (22%), and Damara/Nama (21%) and German.[13] For those 15 years and older, the literacy rate was 92%. In terms of education, 89% of girls and 86% of boys between the ages of 6–15 were attending school, and of those older than 15, 79% had left school, 9% were currently at school, and 8% had never attended.[12]

In 2001 the employment rate for the labor force (71% of those 15+) was 66% employed and 34% unemployed. For those 15+ years old and not in the labor force (24%), 35% were students, 34% homemakers, and 31% retired, too old, etc.[12] According to the 2012 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in the Erongo Region stood at 25.5%. The two studies are methodologically not comparable.[14]

Among households, 96% had safe water, 12% no toilet facility, 73% electricity for lighting, 89% access to radio, and 20% had wood or charcoal for cooking. In terms of household's main sources of income, 4% derived it from farming, 67% from wages and salaries, 8% cash remittances, 8% from business or non-farming, and 10% from pension.[12]

For every 1000 live births there were 43 female infant deaths and 54 male. The life expectancy at birth was 59 years for females and 54 for males. Among children younger than 15, 3% had lost a mother, 5% a father, and 1% were orphaned by both parents. 4% of the entire population had a disability, of which 21% were deaf, 41% blind, 10% had a speech disability, 10% hand disability, 22% leg disability, and 4% mental disability.[12]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erongo.
 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Erongo.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Goodbye". Namibian Sun. 10 April 2020. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  2. ^ "Namibia's Population by Region". Election Watch (1). Institute for Public Policy Research: 3. 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Erongo 2011 Census Regional Profile" (PDF). Statistics Namibia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. ^ "2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Report" (PDF). Statistics Namibia.
  5. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  6. ^ a b c "Regional Council 2020 Election Results". Interactive map. Electoral Commission of Namibia. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  7. ^ Miyanicwe, Clemans; Kahiurika, Ndanki (27 November 2013). "School counsellors overstretched". The Namibian. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Electoral Act, 1992: Notification of Result of General Election for Regional Councils" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. No. 3366. Government of Namibia. 3 January 2005. p. 12.
  9. ^ "Regional Council Election Results 2015". Electoral Commission of Namibia. 3 December 2015. p. 1. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  10. ^ Menges, Werner (29 November 2015). "Mixed results for opposition in regional polls". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  11. ^ "President announces governors". The Namibian. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Erongo Region – Census Indicators, 2001". National Planning Commission. 2001. Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  13. ^ "Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Report" (PDF). 2013-10-02. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  14. ^ Duddy, Jo Maré (11 April 2013). "Unemployment rate still alarmingly high". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013.
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